Boston gangster's bid for new trial heads to appeals court

BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments on former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger's bid to overturn his racketeering convictions.

Bulger's lawyers say his right to a fair trial was violated when a judge barred him from telling the jury about his claim that a federal prosecutor promised him immunity. The judge found that Bulger offered no hard evidence.

Prosecutors say the evidence of Bulger's guilt was overwhelming and he should not get a new trial.

Bulger was convicted of participating in 11 murders in the 1970s and '80s. He fled Boston in 1995 and remained one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives until he was captured in Santa Monica, California, in 2011.

The case is set to go before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday.